Friday, 12 April 2013

My Top Ten Revolution Songs

Secondly, my take on the public reaction to this event is one of fascination rather than jubilation. I don't see much value in celebrating the death of any old lady, whatever her many sins. Especially when the policies and ideologies she promoted are alive and well today, some might say stronger than ever. When they die, I'll be first in line for a party...

I am amused by the effect on the pop charts though, with Judy Garland, Elvis Costello and Hefner (among others) all enjoying huge sales this week. As someone who used to work in radio, I can only imagine the hair-pulling that's going on about whether those records will get played during this weekend's chart countdown. It's like the reverse of what happened with Elton John's godawful remake of Candle In The Wind when Diana died, only it's led by the public rather than the record companies, and it can now happen instantly rather than us all sitting around and waiting for Elton to get in a studio. (That said, I now have a perverse desire to see Elton record a new version of Candle... dedicated to Maggie. And watch him get stoned to death in Barnsley for doing it.)

Anyway, as I say, what's happened really doesn't change anything in our world. (Although I'll probably have to rewrite the script for Too Much Sex & Violence #6. Again.) What we really need to make things better... is a revolution. Or Ten...

Special mention to Revolution 9 (John Moore's old band) and Prince's original backing troupe.

Last night I had a dream
That the world had turned around
And all our hopes had come to be
And the people gathered ‘round
They all brought what they could bring
And nobody went without
And I learned a song to sing
The revolution starts now

While they`re standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion
Don’t you know?
They’re talkin’ bout a revolution
It sounds like a whisper

As testament to how strong this Top Ten is - in any other countdown, this would be #1 with a silver bullet.
has been covered by everyone from Lloyd Cole to the Violent Femmes, Kirsty MacColl to Soulwax... but I'm sure they'd all agree Marc did it best.

You will not be able to stay home, brother. You will not be able to lose yourself on skag and skip, Skip out for beer during commercials, Because the revolution will not be televised.

...but in the end, I thought I'd go for a surprise choice:

1. The Beatles - Revolution

I'm always wary about giving a Number One to the Beatles - they had plenty before I even got here. But as much as I burnt out on this ubiquitous uber-band in my early 20s and can only cope with them in small doses nowadays, I still consider this song one of their greatest achievements. That guitar intro alone is one of the most exciting noises you'll ever hear. On the other hand, much as I consider The White Album their finest hour, I always thought Revolution 9 was a bag of cock.

Good old George Osbourne. Now there's a man who deserves a state funeral. Preferably next week.

I do find it amusing that the Tories and the Daily Mail are complaining that Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead being no.1 is in poor taste, when last week both of them were comparing everyone on benefits to a bloke who killed six kids. Compared to that, nothing is offensive.

Don't ask why I'm two and a half years late commenting on this, but here I am, casting my tardy vote for Billy Bragg's Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards, which informs us "the revolution is just a t-shirt away" and advises us to "start your own revolution and cut out the middleman". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZaYEniPaJg

About Me

About This Blog

Just the humble witterings of a middle-aged music fan from the north of England. I don't claim these lists to be definitive, I haven't heard every record ever produced (though I have heard a good number of them), I don't believe my opinion to be any more valid than yours.

I just like listening to old songs from my record collection and writing about them. Your recommendations are always welcome... if I've missed your favourite - let me know in the comments.

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